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The Tenways CGO600 has emerged as a standout option for city dwellers and short-distance commuters. With its sleek design, quality components, and thoughtful features it’s perfect for someone looking for a lightweight and stealthy e-bike.
Weighing at an impressively light 35 pounds, the CGO600 is a dream for those living in apartments without elevators. It also boasts a Gates Carbon belt drive, which not only adds to the e-bike’s luxurious feel but also ensures a smooth and quiet ride.
In this review, I’ll walk you through what I believe makes the CGO600 standout from other e-bikes and also highlight a few of it’s shortcomings. Let’s get to it!
Key e-bike details
Basics
- Base Price: $1,799
- Class: 1
- Max Speed: 20 mph
- Estimated Range: Max 43 mile
- Weight: 35 lbs
Motor & Electronics
- Motor: Mivice M070 250W Rear Hub Motor
- Torque: 35 Nm
- Motor location: Rear hub
- Battery: 36V, 7AH Lithium-ion battery
- PAS Sensor: Torque
- Throttle: No
- Display: OLED Display
Components
- Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
- Drivetrain: Single speed Gates Carbon Belt
- Belt Drive: Yes
- Tires: CST Puncture-proof 700C-size Tires
Misc
- Recommended Rider Height:
- Medium: 5’5″ – 6’1″
- Large: 5’10” – 6’6″
- Payload Capacity: 264 lbs
What we like about it
- Lightweight: If you live in a walk-up apartment this e-bike is for you. Weighing only 35 pounds, this e-bike is easy to carry up a few flights of stairs.
- Gates Carbon belt drive: Belt drives are a lux addition to an e-bike resulting in a quiet and smooth pedaling experience and they require way less maintenance then a chain drive. Plus, Gates Carbon belts are best in class.
- Appearance: The CGO600 doesn’t scream “e-bike.” It’s a low-key stylish ride that maintains the aesthetics of a traditional commuter bike, but still gives you that boost of e-bike power.
- Nimble: It feels very responsive and nimble, making it easy to navigate around traffic in the city.
- Torque sensor: The torque sensor ensures that the power from the motor matches how much force you are applying to your pedals giving you a more natural riding experience.
- Removable battery: This is not a common feature among other e-bikes with a minimalist, stealthy design. The removable battery is a big plus for me, as it allows for easy replacement of the battery in case of any issues.
- Quality components: Unlike some competitors, Tenways opted for name-brand components like the Gates Carbon belt drive. This adds a layer of quality and reliability. Tenways stands behind their e-bikes with a 2-year warranty, which is much better than most other e-bike companies that only offer a 1-year warranty.
Where it falls short
- Not great on the hills: The 250-watt motor with only 35 Nm of torque can be a limitation on the hills, especially for riders over 175 pounds. This bike is not designed for hilly terrains or long demanding commutes.
- Limited battery life: While Tenways advertises a range of 43 miles, many riders have reported getting closer to 10 or 20 miles.
- No rear light: The CGO600 only comes with a front light and does not have an integrated rear light. In my opinion, a rear light is more important than a front light. Although it comes with a rechargeable light, I often forget to charge rechargeable light. It would have been nice to have opted for an integrated rear light, especially at this price point.
In-depth review
The first thing that stands out to me about the Tenways CGO600 is its weight. If you’re someone who has to carry your e-bike up a flight of stairs, then this 35-pound e-bike is made for you. It’s light, easy to maneuver, and designed with urban living in mind.
The Gates Carbon belt drive is another standout feature. The smooth and quiet pedaling experience it offers is wonderfully pleasant and a belt drive requires far less maintenance than a traditional greasy chain drive. Plus, Gates Carbon is known for producing the highest quality belt drives in the industry. I really enjoy my Gates Carbon belt drive on my daily commuter e-bike and recommend it to others whenever I can.
When it comes to it’s appearance, the CGO600 doesn’t scream “e-bike”. Its low-key elegance makes it a fit for both casual rides around the city and commuting to the office. It maintains the aesthetics of a traditional bike but adds that e-bike zing, striking a good balance between form and function.
I really enjoyed how responsive the CGO600 felt when riding it. It feels very nimble and agile, making it fun to zip through the traffic in the city. It reminded me of my first commuter bike which was a single speed bike messenger type bike. Very fun to ride.
The torque sensor, a technology that ensures the power from the motor matches the force you apply to the pedals, gives you a more natural riding sensation. It adapts to your riding style, making the electric assistance feel intuitive rather than intrusive. It’s a small addition that enhances the overall riding experience.
The CGO600 e-bike has a removable battery, which is not a common feature among other e-bikes with a minimalist, stealthy design. This is a big plus for me, as it allows for easy replacement of the battery in case of any issues. Although I don’t always remove the battery to charge it, it’s reassuring to know that I have the option to do so.
Quality components are a theme with the CGO600. From the Gates Carbon belt drive to other name-brand parts such as the battery or brakes, Tenways has opted for components that add a layer of quality and reliability. I appreciate that Tenways offers a 2-year warranty, rather than the 1-year warranty common among many e-bike companies. This shows that Tenways believes they have built a quality product and they stand behind it. Kudos to them for that.
However, the CGO600 is not without its shortcomings. Its 250-watt motor with only 35 Nm of torque is a clear limitation, especially for riders over 175 pounds. It’s not designed for hilly terrains or long demanding commutes, and this can be a significant drawback for those living in more varied landscapes.
The limited battery life might also be a concern for some. While Tenways advertises a range of 43 miles, many riders have reported getting closer to 10 or 20 miles. This shorter range reiterates to me that this e-bike is really designed for short urban commutes.
You may notice that the more traditional geometry of this e-bike places you in a forward-leaning position compared to other commuter e-bikes. This is ideal if you want to feel like you are going fast and racing your e-bike down city streets. Personally, I used to prefer this type of position, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve switched to a more relaxed riding position.
The CGO600 e-bike features a front light that illuminates your path and enhances your safety during low light conditions. However, it lacks an integrated rear light, which, in my opinion, is more crucial for ensuring your visibility to motorists and other cyclists from behind, especially when cycling in busy traffic. While the e-bike does include a rechargeable light, forgetting to charge it can become an issue if you plan to return home from the office in the dark.
All in all, the Tenways CGO600 is a thoughtfully designed e-bike that caters to the urban commuter, offering a blend of style, performance, and convenience. Its lightweight frame, Gates Carbon belt drive, torque sensor, and sleek appearance make it a standout option.
Tenways CGO600 vs Ride1UP Roadster v2, which is better?
This is a question that has come up frequently. The Ride1UP Roadster and the Tenways CGO600 are very similar e-bikes designed for short, flat, city commutes. If price is a major concern for you, then the Ride1UP Roadster is a solid choice since it’s $704 less expensive. However, if you have a larger budget, then the Tenways CGO600 is the better option. It has higher quality components (such as the Gate Carbon belt drive), better app integration that provides fun riding stats, a removable battery, and a torque sensor. Tenways also has a 2-year warrant versus the 1-year from Ride1UP
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